Not quite a snow day, but storm brings fun to Bascom Hill

While the winter months can draw disdain and wonder, in equal measure, snow lovers have been left wanting so far this season.

For students on the UW-Madison campus, Friday's snowstorm provided the perfect opportunity to enjoy a frosted version of Bascom Hill, which has historically been a focal point for snowball fights and other winter recreation.

On the lower portion of the hill, a group of students was building up snow barricades in preparation for a war. One student sat atop a massive snowball, a feat unimaginable weeks ago when the temperature topped 40 degrees.

Hannah Fergal, a UW freshman, says she has spent the season hoping for a snow day complete with classes called off by the chancellor. In particular, she has looked forward to participating in the campus tradition of tray sledding on Bascom Hill.

"We've been collecting trays over the months to prepare for sledding, so it's sad it has really only been this day," she says.

Another crew of students closer to the iconic statue of Abraham Lincoln was playing a game of ultimate Frisbee in the snow, complete with tackling. UW junior Travis Brown says while the group plays Frisbee every Friday after class, the snow provided a bonus element to its ritual.

"We've missed out by having a mild winter," he says. "It's been a little bit too little too late."